JP7579500B2 - Bathtub cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bathtub cleaning device, and in particular to a simplified connection structure between a cleaning function unit and a storage tank, and a simplified connection structure between a cleaning function unit and a pump.

A widely used bathtub cleaning device is one that stores water supplied from a water supply source or hot and cold water supplied from a water heater in a storage tank, pressurizes the hot and cold water in this storage tank with a pump, and sprays it onto the inside of the bathtub together with detergent from a spray nozzle on the bathtub side, thereby cleaning the inside of the bathtub.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a bathtub cleaning device in which a storage tank, a pump, a detergent mixing section, and valves are housed within a casing.
Patent Document 2 discloses a bathtub cleaning device in which a main unit including a storage tank, a pump, and valves is installed in the ceiling of the bathroom, and a cleaning liquid production unit is provided inside the bathroom.

JP 2021-74268 A JP 2018-175000 A

In conventional bathtub cleaning devices, there was no concept of grouping related components such as the storage tank, pump, valves, and detergent supply system into units, which resulted in complex structures for supporting each piece of equipment and structures for connecting the equipment together, making the overall equipment larger, and increasing the cost of assembling the bathtub cleaning device.

The object of the present invention is to simplify the connection structure between the agent cleaning function unit, which includes the solenoid valve and detergent mixing section, and the storage tank, and the connection structure between the cleaning function unit and the pump.

The bathtub cleaning device of claim 1 is a bathtub cleaning device equipped with a storage tank that is provided in the middle of a hot and cold water passage that supplies hot and cold water to a cleaning nozzle and can store hot and cold water from the upstream of the hot and cold water passage, and a pump that can send the hot and cold water from the storage tank to the cleaning nozzle, characterized in that the bathtub cleaning device has a cleaning function unit that houses an electromagnetic valve and a detergent mixing section in a case, a pump is disposed below the storage tank, the cleaning function unit and the storage tank are connected by a first fitting mechanism, and the cleaning function unit and the pump are connected by a second fitting mechanism.

According to the above configuration, a cleaning function unit is provided in which the solenoid valve and detergent mixing section are housed in a case, a pump is disposed below the storage tank, and the cleaning function unit and storage tank are connected by a first fitting mechanism and the cleaning function unit and pump are coupled by a second fitting mechanism. This simplifies the connection structure between the cleaning function unit and storage tank and the connection structure between the cleaning function unit and pump, and simplifies the assembly work of the cleaning function unit, the connection work between the cleaning function unit and storage tank, and the connection work between the cleaning function unit and pump.

The bathtub cleaning device of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, characterized in that the first fitting mechanism has a first fitting protrusion or a first fitting recess formed on the storage tank, and a first fitting recess or a first fitting protrusion formed on an upper portion of one side of the case of the cleaning function unit and into which the first fitting protrusion or the first fitting recess is fitted.

According to the above configuration, the first fitting mechanism has a first fitting protrusion or a first fitting recess formed on the storage tank and a first fitting recess or a first fitting protrusion formed on the upper part of one side of the case of the cleaning function unit, so that the first fitting mechanism can be easily connected and disconnected.

The bathtub cleaning device of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1, characterized in that the second fitting mechanism has a second fitting protrusion or a second fitting recess formed on the pump, and a second fitting recess or a second fitting protrusion formed on the lower part of one side of the case of the cleaning function unit and into which the second fitting protrusion or the second fitting recess is fitted.

According to the above configuration, the second fitting mechanism has a second fitting protrusion or a second fitting recess formed on the pump and a second fitting recess or a second fitting protrusion formed on the lower part of one side of the case of the cleaning function unit, so that the second fitting mechanism can be easily connected and disconnected.

The present invention provides the various effects described above.

1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water supply device, a bathtub, a bathtub cleaning device, etc. according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a cleaning unit of a bathtub cleaning device as viewed from the front. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the cleaning function unit, the storage tank, the pump, etc. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the storage tank and pump. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning function unit as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first fitting protrusion and the like formed on the storage tank. 4 is a perspective view of a first fitting recess formed in a case of the cleaning function unit. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second fitting protrusion formed on the pump. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second fitting recess formed in a case of the cleaning function unit. FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in Figure 1, a hot water supply device 2 for filling and reheating the bathtub 1 is connected to the bathtub 1 via a filling and reheating pipe 3, and the pipe 3 is connected to a circulation adapter 1a of the bathtub 1. In addition, at the bottom of the bathtub 1, there are disposed a drain plug 4 for automatically draining hot and cold water, which can be operated by an operating unit 4a, and a cleaning nozzle 5 for spraying detergent and hot and cold water to clean the bathtub 1. The bathtub 1 is covered with a lid (not shown).

A bathtub cleaning device 10 is disposed near the bathtub 1. This bathtub cleaning device 10 has a cleaning function unit 6 that supplies detergent and hot and cold water to the cleaning nozzle 5, a detergent tank 7 that stores detergent, a storage tank 22 that stores hot and cold water for cleaning, and a pump 28 that is connected to the storage tank 22 and pressurizes the hot and cold water in the storage tank 22 and supplies it to the cleaning nozzle 5.

The cleaning function unit 6 is connected to a detergent pipe 7a for supplying detergent from the detergent tank 7 and a hot water supply pipe 2a for supplying hot water from the hot water supply device 2. The detergent tank 7 is provided with a level sensor 7b, and its detection signal is supplied to the power supply communication unit 8. In addition, the power supply communication unit 8, which is installed on the ceiling of the bathroom, for example, is connected to the equipment inside the cleaning function unit 6 by a signal line or the like.

The hot water supply device 2 is a combustion-type hot water supply device that receives clean water W and supplies hot water that has been heated using, for example, the heat of combustion of a fuel, but it may also be a hot water supply device with a heat pump-type heat source unit. A bathroom remote control 11 and a kitchen remote control 12 are communicatively connected to the hot water supply device 2 for starting the water filling operation and the reheating operation, setting the hot water supply temperature, etc. In addition, a cleaning remote control 13 for starting the cleaning operation by the bathtub cleaning device 10 is connected to the control unit 21 of the power communication unit 8.

The water heater 2 and the power communication unit 8 are connected by a cord 8b that bundles a power cord for power supply and a communication cord, and the cleaning remote control 13 can communicate with the bathtub cleaning device 10 via the water heater 2 and the power communication unit 8. The kitchen remote control 12 and the bathroom remote control 11 can also communicate with the bathtub cleaning device 10. The kitchen remote control 12 has a touch-operable display unit 12a and an audio output unit 12b. The cleaning remote control 13 has a two-digit number display unit 13a and an audio output unit 13b.

The kitchen remote control 12 and the cleaning remote control 13 are operation terminals for starting the cleaning operation of the bathtub cleaning device 10. The bathroom remote control 11 can also be used to start the cleaning operation of the bathtub cleaning device 10.

The cleaning function unit 6 of the bathtub cleaning device 10 is a hot water supply pipe 23 (corresponding to a part of the hot water passage) that is connected to the hot water supply pipe 2a and supplies hot water to the storage tank 22. The hot water supply pipe 23 has two branch passages 23a, 23b, a filter 24 installed in the hot water supply pipe 23, an electromagnetic opening/closing valve 25a and a constant flow valve 26a installed in the branch passage 23a from the upstream side, and an electromagnetic opening/closing valve 25b and a constant flow valve 26b installed in the other branch passage 23b from the upstream side. The downstream ends of the branch passages 23a, 23b are connected to the storage tank 22.

The washing function unit 6 further includes a discharge pipe 27 (corresponding to part of the hot and cold water passage) extending from the pump 28 to the washing noble 5, two check valves 30 arranged in order from the upstream side in the discharge pipe 27, a flow sensor 31, a thermistor 29, and an orifice 32 to which the detergent supply pipe 7a is connected. An electromagnetic opening/closing valve 7c is arranged in the detergent supply pipe 7a extending from the detergent tank 7, and the detergent supply pipe 7a, the electromagnetic opening/closing valve 7c, and the orifice 32 correspond to the detergent mixing section 6a.

The synthetic resin storage tank 22 is provided with a float-type water level detector 34 (water level detection means) capable of detecting low and high water levels, and the detection signal is supplied to the control unit 21. The storage tank 22 is also provided with an overflow port 22b (see Figure 1).

The control unit 21 is equipped with a microcomputer having, for example, a calculation unit, a memory unit, an input/output unit, and a clock circuit, and controls the equipment related to the washing operation and the drain plug 4 based on a control program stored in the memory unit. During the washing operation, the control unit 21 opens the drain plug 4, controls the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valves 25a, 25b, 7c of the hot water supply pipe 23 and the detergent supply pipe 7a, and controls the operation of the pump 28, and stores the washing operation history including the start and end times of the washing operation, the washing course, the number of washing operations (number of automatic washings), etc.

When the bathtub cleaning device 10 starts cleaning operation by operating an operating terminal such as the kitchen remote control 12 or cleaning remote control 13, the control unit 21 opens the drain plug 4, stores hot and cold water in the storage tank 22, drives the pump 28 to mix detergent into the hot and cold water supplied to the cleaning nozzle 5, and sprays the detergent and hot and cold water from the cleaning nozzle 5.

One washing process includes an initial rinse using only hot water (several tens of seconds), followed by multiple washes and standby operations using hot water and detergent, and a final rinse using only hot water (several tens of seconds). The wash and standby operations include a wash using hot water and detergent for several seconds, followed by a standby operation of approximately several tens of seconds.

The flow rate of the constant flow valves 26a, 26b is, for example, 5 L/min each, and the discharge rate of the pump 28 is, for example, 6.5 L/min. When the water level in the storage tank 22 becomes low, both electromagnetic valves 25a, 25b are opened and hot water is supplied at a flow rate of 10 L/min. When the water level in the storage tank 22 becomes high, one of the electromagnetic valves 25a, 25b is closed and hot water is supplied at a flow rate of 5 L/min.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning function unit 6 is configured as a unit by housing electromagnetic on-off valves 25a, 25b, constant flow valves 26a, 26b, a thermistor 29, two check valves 30, a flow sensor 31, a detergent mixing section 6a, etc. inside a rectangular case 33 made of synthetic resin.

The upper interior of the case 33 of the cleaning function unit 6 is fitted with electromagnetic on-off valves 25a, 25b and constant flow valves 26a, 26b, which are respectively fitted to the two branch passages 23a, 23b of the hot and cold water supply pipe 23. The detergent mixing section 6a is fitted inside the middle section of the case 33, and the thermistor 29, two check valves 30, and a flow sensor 31 are fitted inside the lower section of the case 33. The synthetic resin block 39 has an orifice 32 and a detergent passage formed therein, and also has a built-in electromagnetic valve 7c. Two reinforcing ribs 40 are formed on the inner surface of the middle section of the case 33.

A storage tank 22 is arranged on the upper right side of the cleaning function unit 6, and the lid member 22c of this storage tank 22 is provided with water supply ports 42a, 42b which are connected to two branch passages 23a, 23b respectively and for supplying hot and cold water to the storage tank 22.
The downstream portions of the branch passages 23a, 23b are formed by pipes 41a, 41b, and the downstream ends of the pipes 41a, 41b are connected to water supply ports 42a, 42b in an externally fitted manner, respectively.

A discharge port (not shown) is formed in the center of the bottom plate 22d of the storage tank 22, to which a pump 28 is connected, and a discharge pipe 27 extends from the discharge portion of the pump 28. The pump 28 mixes detergent with the hot water drawn from the storage tank 22 and discharges it to the cleaning nozzle 5 via the discharge pipe 27. A pair of partition plates 44a, 44b are provided inside the storage tank 22 to allow hot water to pass through in order to prevent the generation of air bubbles.

Next, a structure for connecting the cleaning function unit 6, the storage tank 22, and the pump 28 will be described with reference to FIGS.
4 is a rear view of the cleaning function unit 6, the storage tank 22, and the pump 28, and therefore, in FIGS. 4 to 10, the reference character R is the right side and the reference character L is the left side.

The cleaning function unit 6 and the storage tank 22 are connected by a first fitting mechanism 45, and the cleaning function unit 6 and the pump 28 are connected by a second fitting mechanism 51.

The first fitting mechanism 45 has a first fitting protrusion 46 formed at the upper end of the left side surface of the storage tank 22 so as to protrude leftward from the left side surface, and a first fitting recess 47 formed at the upper end of one side surface (right side surface) of the case 33 of the cleaning function unit 6 into which the first fitting protrusion 46 fits from above.

The first fitting protrusion 46 is formed with a T-shaped horizontal cross section as shown in FIG. 7. The first fitting recess 47 is formed with a vertical groove with a T-shaped horizontal cross section and a bottom surface 47a as shown in FIG. 8. When the first fitting protrusion 46 is fitted into the first fitting recess 47 from above, the lower end of the first fitting protrusion 46 is received by the bottom surface 47a.

A screw projection 48 having a screw hole 48 is provided at a position separated by a predetermined distance behind the first fitting protrusion 46, and a screw hole forming portion 49 having a screw hole 49a facing the screw hole 48a of the screw projection 48 is provided at the rear of the first fitting recess 47. With the first fitting protrusion 46 fitted into the first fitting recess 47, a screw 50 (see FIG. 4) can be screwed into the screw projection 48 and the screw hole forming portion 49 to prevent the storage tank 22 from being removed from the cleaning function unit 6.

The side of the storage tank 22 is inclined relative to the vertical due to the draft angle created during injection molding, and multiple protrusions 35 are formed on the right side of the case 33 to prevent the storage tank 22 from rattling left and right relative to the cleaning function unit 6.

The second fitting mechanism 51 has a second fitting protrusion 52 formed at the lower end of the left side surface of the pump 28 so as to protrude leftward from the left side surface, and a second fitting recess 54 formed at the bottom of one side surface (right side surface) of the case 33 of the cleaning function unit 6 and into which the second fitting protrusion 52 fits.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second mating protrusion 52 is made up of a pair of L-shaped pieces 52a, 52b placed back to back, with a slit 52c formed between the pair of L-shaped pieces 52a, 52b to prevent excessive thickness and a large amount of shrinkage. A pair of engaging portions 53a, 53b are formed at the upper ends of the pair of L-shaped pieces 52a, 52b.

The second fitting recess 54 is configured so that a pair of I-shaped pieces 54a, 54b with an L-shaped horizontal cross section form a T-shaped cross-sectional recess 55. When the pair of L-shaped pieces 52a, 52b are fitted into the recess 55 of the second fitting recess 54, the pair of engaged portions 53a, 53b are received by the upper ends of the pair of I-shaped pieces 54a, 54b.

The operation and effect of the layout relationship of the above-described cleaning function unit 6, storage tank 22, and pump 28, and the structure connecting them, will be described below.
A cleaning function unit 6 is provided in which electromagnetic opening/closing valves 25a, 25b, constant flow valves 26a, 26b, check valve 30, flow sensor 31, and detergent mixing section 6a are housed within a case 33, and a pump 28 is arranged below the storage tank 22. The cleaning function unit 6 and the storage tank 22 are connected by a first fitting mechanism 45, and the cleaning function unit 6 and the pump 28 are connected by a second fitting mechanism 51.

As a result, the connection structure between the cleaning function unit 6 and the storage tank 22 and the connection structure between the cleaning function unit 6 and the pump 28 are simplified, and the assembly work of the cleaning function unit 6, the connection work between the cleaning function unit 6 and the storage tank 22, and the connection work between the cleaning function unit 6 and the pump 28 are simplified.

The first fitting mechanism 45 has a first fitting protrusion 46 formed on the storage tank 22 and a first fitting recess 47 formed on the upper part of one side of the case 33 of the cleaning function unit 6, so that the first fitting mechanism 45 can be easily connected and disconnected.

The second fitting mechanism 51 has a second fitting protrusion 52 formed on the pump 28 and a second fitting recess 54 formed on the lower part of one side of the case 33 of the cleaning function unit 6 into which the second fitting protrusion 52 fits, so that the second fitting mechanism 51 can be easily connected and disconnected.

Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.
(1) The first fitting recess 47 may be formed instead of the first fitting protrusion 46 , and the first fitting recess 47 may be formed instead of the first fitting protrusion 46 .
(2) The second fitting recess 54 may be formed instead of the second fitting protrusion 52, and the second fitting protrusion 52 may be formed instead of the second fitting recess 54.

(3) The bathtub cleaning device 10 in the above embodiment has been described as an example of cleaning using hot water supplied from the water heater 2, but it can also be configured to clean using water supplied from a drinking water source.
(4) In addition, a person skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various forms by adding various modifications to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention also includes such modifications.

Reference Signs List 1 Bathtub 5 Cleaning nozzle 6 Cleaning function unit 6a Detergent mixing section 10 Bathtub cleaning device 22 Storage tank 23, 27 Hot and cold water passage 28 Pump 33 Case 45 First fitting mechanism 46 First fitting protrusion 47 First fitting recess 51 Second fitting mechanism 52 Second fitting protrusion 54 Second fitting recess

Claims (3)

A bathtub cleaning device including a storage tank provided in a hot water passageway that supplies hot water to a cleaning nozzle and capable of storing hot water from an upstream of the hot water passageway, and a pump capable of supplying the hot water from the storage tank to the cleaning nozzle,
The bathtub cleaning device includes a cleaning function unit that houses an electromagnetic valve and a detergent mixing unit in a case,
A bathtub cleaning device characterized in that a pump is arranged below the storage tank, the cleaning function unit and the storage tank are connected by a first fitting mechanism, and the cleaning function unit and the pump are connected by a second fitting mechanism. The bathtub cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fitting mechanism has a first fitting protrusion or a first fitting recess formed on the storage tank, and a first fitting recess or a first fitting protrusion formed on an upper portion of one side of the case of the cleaning function unit and into which the first fitting protrusion or the first fitting recess is fitted. The bathtub cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second fitting mechanism has a second fitting protrusion or a second fitting recess formed on the pump, and a second fitting recess or a second fitting protrusion formed on the lower part of one side of the case of the cleaning function unit and into which the second fitting protrusion or the second fitting recess is fitted.